I just watched the video below from one of my favorite natural hair vloggers. She has been making a slow transition to vegan for over 3 years and decided to share her story on YouTube. It’s very similar to mine and it had me thinking – could going natural (with your hair) be the start of a vegan journey? I’ve always seen the correlation between learning to care for my hair to learning to care for my body. I had no idea it would lead me to becoming vegan but it has. The more I learn about the things I’m putting on and in my body, the better it inspires me to do the right thing for myself.

Healthy hair is a great marker of overall health. Experts agree that a healthy diet with the right mix of protein, iron, and other nutrients like vitamin E, selenium, copper, and magnesium can help improve the health, look, and feel of your hair.

With genetic hair loss, you lose your hair gradually, and hair loss increases with age. Non-genetic hair loss occurs when once healthy hair suddenly and noticeably begins falling out. A typical scalp has about 120,000-150,000 strands of hair, and sheds about 50 to 100 strand per day. Most people don’t even notice that small amount.

Any vitamin deficiency will cause hair loss. At any given time, about 90% of your hair is in the growing phase. For each individual hair, this growing phase lasts 2 to 3 years. At the end of that time, hairs enter a resting phase that lasts about 3 months before they are shed and replaced by new hair. If you don’t get enough protein and nutrients in your diet, a disproportionate number of hairs may go into the resting phase.

I’m still cooking my way through Karina Inkster’s “Vegan Vitality – Your Complete Guide to an Active, Healthy, Plant-Based Lifestyle”. This recipe was quick and easy with just 3 simple directions- just the way I like all my recipes :). The dipping sauce is great but if it’s not your taste, feel free to use another sauce. You know tofu is a blank slate, so you can jazz it up with whatever flavors you like.

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls

I’ve been vegan for a little over a year and it has served my hair well so far. I hate to admit it but it’s been about a year since I’ve trimmed my mane and when I went to my stylist he only had to trim off 2 inches, which is awesome for a year of growth. In addition to great hair care maintenance, I owe my locks to a well-balanced diet.

It’s pretty easy to get the vitamins and nutrients you need for healthy hair and body on a vegan diet if you’re consuming enough food. Vegan foods are practically bursting with nutrients to make your hair, skin, and nails look fantastic, not to mention your mind and body.

If you’re considering including more plant based foods in your diet to improve your locks, check out these 18 vegan foods for gorgeous hair.

This recipe is a simple, colorful, and nutritious side dish. Feel free to experiment with different kinds of veggies, herbs and spices for additional flavors but this combo is perfect to impress house guest or to spice up a meal.

Did you know that it is better to dry your hair with an old cotton t-shirt vs. a towel? Drying your hair with those thick and fluffy towels cause breakage, rough hair and split ends. Micro-fiber towels are another alternative if you have a lot of extra cash for hair products but the longer your hair gets the more material you’ll need using a micro-fiber towel.A cotton t-shirt is smooth and therefore causes less friction when drying your hair, which will lead to less split ends and breakage. This is the only way I do it! I wrap up my clean, wet hair in a t-shirt for 5-15 minutes, take it down and then apply my styling product. It dries quicker with less frizz and sometimes a bit less shrinkage.

Are you using a cotton t-shirt, towel, micro-fiber towel or something else to dry your hair?

I was a little nervous about making Hummus for the first time but it came out really well and it was really quick and simple. If you want to make Hummus at home instead of buying it in the store, check out the recipe below:

As with any journey, transitioning to from relaxed to natural presents its own unique challenges. While everyone’s experiences are different, it can be helpful to see how others have navigated through the process. It’s been a little over 5 years since I transitioned, but I can remember a time when I was struggling to figure out what to do with 2 different textures on my hair.

I often hear; “I tried the natural thing for a minute and it didn’t work.” I’m a believer in the fact that everyone shouldn’t do the same thing but I’m also a believer that God didn’t make any mistakes when creating you as you are naturally. So if you’re considering going natural or already in the process, check out these 5 mistakes to avoid.

Overuse of Heat

I know when I was transitioning; I would sometimes flat iron my hair multiple times a day to blend the two textures. That is the one thing I regret not knowing prior to starting this journey. Overuse of heat can and will ruin your curl pattern and damage your hair. Try blending the two textures with styles such as twist outs and bantu knots and just use a roller to twist the ends of your hair that may still be straight.

I had the opportunity to go to Atlanta last week and visit my amazing friends. While I was there I had a lot of great food that fit within my vegan diet. Check out my favorite eats from my travels to Atlanta.

Aja Restaurant and Bar

3500 Lenox Rd NE #100, Atlanta, GA 30326

PAD KING VEGETABLES

12 seasonal vegetables, tofu, rice noodles, sweet soy

*This was by far my favorite dish of the trip

Café Sunflower

5975 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30328

Sweet and Sour Soy Chicken

Battered and fried soy chicken with onions, bell peppers, water chestnuts, broccoli and pineapple in a fruity and spicy sauce with brown rice.

*Café Sunflower is an all vegan restaurant. You can’t go wrong with anything on this menu.